Nurse shark

Photo: Rafael de la Parra · CC BY-NC

Nurse sharks are sluggish bottom-dwellers that spend daylight hours resting in groups on sandy patches between coral heads. They feed at night, using strong suction to extract spiny lobster, octopus, and sleeping reef fish from crevices. Their presence indicates an undisturbed reef with healthy invertebrate populations. While generally docile toward divers, they can bite if harassed — their grip is powerful and they rarely release. Globally listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and targeted fishing.